A review by hadaad
The Godless by Ben Peek
I see what you're trying to do with The Godless, Ben Peek. Trying to keep the story going forward while seamlessly integrating backstory in order to provide motivation and characterization without jarring the reader. Sadly, for the most part, this was not successful. I found myself having to re-read passages because I couldn't tell when they were supposed to have happened. With a lot of stories, I wouldn't have given as much time as I did to The Godless. I would have walked away.
And I did walk away, because the due date came up for me to return the book, and I had to return it or face the stern gaze of the librarian as I paid my fine. But I borrowed it again when it came out, and I finished it, even though I had to go back a hundred pages to get back to the story I recognized.
The reason it was worth going back was, generally, the world. I like what Peek has set up there. Despite my whining about backstory, it does add depth to the characters, and I ended up caring more about what happened with them, particularly Burelan and Ayae. Zaifyr I could have taken or left, though he drove a large part of the story.
When there was action, it was sweet, mostly because of the long stretches without, and nothing in particular stood out as being something that would keep me from reading more.
I do plan to continue the series, but I've got a lot on my list right now, so maybe in a couple of months, provided I don't suddenly find more on there.
And I did walk away, because the due date came up for me to return the book, and I had to return it or face the stern gaze of the librarian as I paid my fine. But I borrowed it again when it came out, and I finished it, even though I had to go back a hundred pages to get back to the story I recognized.
The reason it was worth going back was, generally, the world. I like what Peek has set up there. Despite my whining about backstory, it does add depth to the characters, and I ended up caring more about what happened with them, particularly Burelan and Ayae. Zaifyr I could have taken or left, though he drove a large part of the story.
When there was action, it was sweet, mostly because of the long stretches without, and nothing in particular stood out as being something that would keep me from reading more.
I do plan to continue the series, but I've got a lot on my list right now, so maybe in a couple of months, provided I don't suddenly find more on there.